THE SECOND BOOK 191 



three wisdoms of divers natures, which do often sever : 

 wisdom of the behaviour, wisdom of business, and 

 wisdom of state. 



3. The wisdom of conversation ought not to be over 

 much affected, but much less despised ; for it hath not 

 only an honour in itself, but an influence also into 

 business and government. The poet saith, ' Nee vultu 

 destrue verba tuo ' : a man may destroy the force of 

 his words with his countenance : so may he of his 

 deeds, saith Cicero, recommending to his brother affa- 

 bility and easy access ; ' Nil interest habere ostium 

 apertum, vultum clausum ' ; it is nothing won to admit 

 men with an open door, and to receive them with a shut 

 and reserved countenance. So we see Atticus, before 

 the first interview between Caesar and Cicero, the war 

 depending, did seriously advise Cicero touching the 

 composing and ordering of his countenance and gesture. 

 And if the government of the countenance be of such 

 effect, much more is that of the speech, and other 

 carriage appertaining to conversation ; the true model 

 whereof seemeth to me well expressed by Livy, though 

 not meant for this purpose : ' Ne aut arrogans videar, 

 aut obnoxius ; quorum alterum est alienae libertatis 

 obliti, alterum suae ' : the sum of behaviour is to retain 

 a man's own dignity, without intruding upon the liberty 

 of others. On the other side, if behaviour and outward 

 carriage be intended too much, first it may pass into 

 affectation, and then ' Quid deformius quam scenam 

 in vitam transferre,' to act a man's life ? But 

 although it proceed not to that extreme, yet it con- 

 sumeth time, and employeth the mind too much. And 

 therefore as we use to advise young students from com- 

 pany keeping, by saying, ' Amici fures temporis ' : sa 

 certainly the intending of the discretion of behaviour 

 is a great thief of meditation. Again, such as are 

 accomplished in that form of urbanity please them- 

 selves in it, and seldom aspire to higher virtue ; whereas 

 those that have defect in it do seek comeliness by repu- 

 tation ; for where reputation is, almost everything be- 

 cometh ; but where that is not, it must be supplied 



